Phinda Vlei Lodge

• Game drives and walks in a Big 5 reserve
• Track black rhino on foot
• Watch animals and birds from your deck
• Sit by the blazing fire in the lounge at night
• Special activities for children
• Just 6 suites for an exclusive feel

Open: Phinda Vlei Lodge is open all year.

Location: The lodge is below the Lebombo Mountains at the edge of a forest overlooking a clearing in Phinda Private Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal. There are daily flights from Johannesburg to Phinda's private airstrip, it is also accessible by road.

Rooms: There are six air conditioned suites with accommodation for a maximum of 12 guests. Each has a bedroom, sitting area, minibar, dressing room and en-suite bathroom with a deep bathtub, shower, twin hand basin and flush toilet. The bedroom opens on to a deck with chairs and a table and a small lap pool. Rooms are located at varying distances from the main lodge. The suites are well positioned to enable wildlife watching from your bed, deck or even the bathtub.

Activities: Regular activities comprise day and night game drives, guided walks and river cruises. These can be supplemented by rhino tracking walks, photographic safaris (subject to vehicle availability), and time spend at a local Zulu village. You can travel to the coast, where you can swim with whale sharks, go scuba diving and take seasonal whale watching and turtle watching trips. 

Facilities: The main lodge houses an elegant dining room and lounge, each with a large fireplace. These rooms open on to a large terrace facing the vlei and a waterhole where you can sit and watch wildlife and enjoy a drink from the bar.

Dining: Meals are eaten at a communal table in the dining room, on the deck and by the edge of the vlei. Private dining is possible, served on your suite's deck.

Children: Children of all ages are welcome, though age limits apply to activities. The minimum age for game drives is 12, though those aged 6 plus may take part if the lodge manager agrees. The lodge operates the WILDchild programme, a series of special activities for youngsters.

Health: This is a low risk malarial area.

Communication: There is Wi-Fi internet access.